The city of Dexter, Missouri received substantial support from the Nestle Purina Bloomfield, MO factory for two major projects.

The Dexter Police department received $10,000 from Nestle Purina to help train a new K9 Officer named Knox who is a 2-year old German Shepard.

The police department lost one of their K9 officers last year and they needed local support to raise the funds to place Knox in the department. Knox and his handler Officer Forkum and the Dexter Chief of Police Trevor Pulley visited the Nestle Purina Bloomfield factory for the donation. Knox performed his favorite task of tracking through a staged search. He found everything he was looking for and even found some special sugar cookies with his name and badge on them. Knox was presented with a gift basket containing Purina ProPlan dog food, Purina Dog treats and several K9 officer friendly toys, dog dishes, leashes, bandanas, blankets and a new bed.

The city of Dexter also received a donation of $10,000 from Nestle Purina to help build an off-leash Dog Park in town. Nestle Purina believes that having a dog park in the community is a great asset and brings people and pets together. Emily Garner, Christa Tucker, Vicky Breece and Nona Robinson from the City of Dexter visited the Bloomfield factory to receive the donation on behalf of the city. The donation made by Nestle Purina will help pay for items in Phase 1 of the project which includes fencing, trash receptacles and cameras. Phase 2 of the project will include play equipment and a building. The City Parks department will be taking care of general Maintenance of the park. Nestle Purina and the rest of the community is looking forward to the grand opening of the park.

Route 25 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane in a moving operation as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs. 

The section of roadway is located from Business 60 to Route AA.

Weather permitting, work will be performed Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

This Holiday Season, and All Year Long:

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Dexter Police Department is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives. The national high-visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from December 13, 2019 – January 1, 2020. During this period, local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk driving, as well as drugged driving, which is on the rise. Increased State and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways. 

Sadly, the statistics show that we have a lot of work to do to put an end to drunk driving. According to NHTSA, 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2018, equating to one person killed every 48 minutes. These crashes account for 29 percent of all 2018 fatalities. On average, 10,000 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes each year from 2014 to 2018. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors. This is why the Dexter Police Department is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to enjoy the holiday festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. 

Drunk driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our nation’s roads. If drivers are impaired by any substance—alcohol or drugs—they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving while impaired is illegal, period. The bottom line is this: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. It’s that simple. 

During the holidays, and every day, please remember that drunk driving isn’t only illegal, it’s deadly. 

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

The Caruthersville Police Department has issued an Endangered Person Advisory for

Michele L. Bell, who has been missing since 11:43 p.m. on December 8. Bell's car was located unoccupied near Joiner, Arkansas.

Bell is 36 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. She has blond hair, green eyes and a light complexion. According to authorities she was last seen wearing a pink shirt and pink leggings.

Authorities say Bell is suffering from mental illness and is hallucinating. Anyone has seen Bell or has any information on her whereabouts should dial 911, call the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Caruthersville Police Department at 573-333-4101.

On Saturday, November 16th, 2019, Officer Durall, conducted a traffic stop and was assisted by Cpl. Forshee. 

During the investigation, the driver of the vehicle, Chad Goza, had active Scott County Warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana less than (10) grams and Driving While Revoked/Suspended.  The vehicle had been reported stolen by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Dexter PD K-9 Officer Forkum and his K-9, Knox, responded and assisted in the investigation.  During the search of the vehicle, K-9 Knox, alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.  During the search of the vehicle, approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia were discovered.

Arrested were:

Chad M. Goza

Age 43 of Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Charged with Tampering 1st Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Bond $25,000.00 Cash Only

Deana M. Latham

Age 29 of Sikeston, Mo.

Charged with Tampering 1st Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Bond $50,000.00 Cash Only

Both are currently being held in the Stoddard County Jail.

K-9 Knox has also assisted in 3 other investigations, resulting in 6 drug arrests.

K-9 Knox is a great asset for our department and surrounding agencies.